Buying guide

The best table lamps for every spot.

Where a lamp sits decides which one works: the width of the shade, the height, the way the light falls. Every pick here comes from our range, with each figure taken from its own listing.

Where's it going?

By Enso Lighting · Updated 23 October 2026

Tiber, our pick for a sideboard. See it

The quick list

  1. 1 Best for a side table Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp £195
  2. 2 Best with no side table Arvid Linen Floor Lamp £140
  3. 3 Best for a small bedside Amalfi Table Lamp £140
  4. 4 Best for a wider bedside Darcy Squat Table Lamp £190
  5. 5 Best statement Tiber Stone Table Lamp £215
  6. 6 Best in a pair Roma Glass Table Lamp £260
  7. 7 Best for focused light Valen Tripod Table Lamp £215
  8. 8 Best small stone lamp Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp £85
  9. 9 Best with no socket Fungo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp £51
  10. 10 Best cordless with a shade Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp £80
  11. 11 Best set of three Trio Wireless Table Lamp Set £110
01

Beside the sofa

What matters here

  • Aim for the shade's base at shoulder height when you are seated.
  • Fit 2700K bulbs: the living room is an evening room.
  • Three or four small lamps beat one bright ceiling light.
All living room lighting (205)

Best for a side table

1. Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp

Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp — Cream, Linen Shade

£195 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp

A cream ceramic base with a lattice relief moulded into it, under a 38 cm linen shade, 58 cm tall overall. Beside a sofa it lights the table top and the arm of the chair in an even spread, while the linen keeps the edge of the light soft.

Specifications

Light
E27 ES
Suits
Side tables and consoles
Size
W 38 cm · H 58 cm · D 38 cm
Material
Ceramic & Linen
Finish
Cream
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Even light across the table top
  • Takes a standard E27 bulb

Good to know

  • 38 cm shade needs a generous side table

Best with no side table

2. Arvid Linen Floor Lamp

Arvid Linen Floor Lamp — Oatmeal, Fabric Drum Shade

£140 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Arvid Linen Floor Lamp

A slim stem with a 30 cm oatmeal drum shade, 130 cm tall, that stands behind a reading chair or at the end of the sofa. The open top sends light up to the ceiling while the linen softens the glow below, and a foot switch on the cable saves reaching down.

Specifications

Light
E27
Suits
Beside a sofa or chair
Size
H 130 cm
Material
Linen, Metal
Finish
Oatmeal
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Light goes up and down
  • Inline foot switch
  • Takes no table space

Good to know

  • No bulb in the box, 11 W maximum
02

On a bedside table

What matters here

  • Shade base 50–65 cm above the mattress keeps the bulb hidden.
  • Choose a shade narrower than the bedside table top.
  • Use 2700K bulbs and dim them in the last hour.
All bedside lamps (9)

Best for a small bedside

3. Amalfi Table Lamp

Amalfi Table Lamp — Grey, Linen Shade

£140 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Amalfi Table Lamp

Grey stone-effect ceramic under a linen shade, 31 cm across, so it leaves room on a bedside for a book and a glass. At 44 cm tall it sits low, and light escapes from the top and bottom of the shade as a soft glow rather than a spotlight.

Specifications

Suits
Bedsides and small tables
Size
W 31 cm · H 44 cm · D 31 cm
Material
Ceramic & Linen
Finish
Grey
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Compact 31 cm footprint
  • Soft light above and below

Good to know

  • Glows all round: not a focused reading light

Best for a wider bedside

4. Darcy Squat Table Lamp

Darcy Squat Table Lamp — Antique White, Linen Shade

£190 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Darcy Squat Table Lamp

A low, rippled ceramic base in antique white under a 40 cm linen drum, 50 cm tall in all. The squat shape keeps its weight low, so it is less likely to tip if knocked in the dark, and the broad shade lays a wide pool across the bed.

Specifications

Suits
Wider bedsides and side tables
Size
W 40 cm · H 50 cm · D 40 cm
Material
Ceramic & Linen
Finish
Antique White
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Low centre of gravity
  • Broad 40 cm pool of light

Good to know

  • Needs a bedside at least 40 cm wide
03

On a sideboard or console

What matters here

  • A sideboard takes a bigger shade than a bedside: 40–55 cm.
  • Use a matched pair for symmetry, or one lamp at one end.
  • Pair it with a smaller light at a different height.
All dining room lighting (157)

Best statement

5. Tiber Stone Table Lamp

Tiber Stone Table Lamp — Flecked Stone, Large

£215 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Tiber Stone Table Lamp

A round, heavy ceramic base with a speckled, stone-like glaze, under a 54 cm light grey fabric shade, 72 cm tall. The shade throws light sideways as well as down, so it washes the wall behind the sideboard as well as the top.

Specifications

Suits
Sideboards, not bedsides
Size
W 54 cm · H 72 cm · D 54 cm
Material
Ceramic
Finish
Flecked Stone
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Fills a long sideboard
  • Light sideways and down
  • Weighty 6.5 kg base

Good to know

  • 54 cm shade needs a deep surface

Best in a pair

6. Roma Glass Table Lamp

Roma Glass Table Lamp — Fluted Glass & Chrome, Herringbone Shade

£260 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Roma Glass Table Lamp

A ribbed glass column on a chrome base with a herringbone shade, 81 cm tall with a 40 cm shade. The shade sends light down more than out and the fluted glass breaks it into fine lines, so a lamp at each end of a sideboard looks ordered and calm.

Specifications

Light
E27 ES
Suits
A pair on a sideboard
Size
W 40 cm · H 81 cm · D 40 cm
Material
Glass & Chrome
Finish
Clear & Chrome
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Fluted glass catches the light
  • Light falls onto the top

Good to know

  • E27 bulb not in the box
04

On a home office desk

What matters here

  • Place it on the side away from your writing hand.
  • Fit a 3500–4000K bulb for close work at the desk.
  • Keep the shade low, so light reaches the page, not your eyes.
All office lighting (42)

Best for focused light

7. Valen Tripod Table Lamp

Valen Tripod Table Lamp — Black & Brass, Large

£215 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Valen Tripod Table Lamp

A black and brass tripod with a gold-lined dish shade, 78 cm tall on a 36 cm footprint. The dish gathers the light into a tight pool on the desk below and out to one side, enough to read or write beside, while the open frame keeps the view across the room.

Specifications

Light
G9
Suits
Desks at least 36 cm deep
Size
W 36 cm · H 78 cm · D 36 cm
Material
Brass, Metal
Finish
Black & Brass
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Tight pool for reading
  • Open frame, light visual weight

Good to know

  • Tripod legs take 36 cm of desk
  • Not a broad room light
05

On a shelf or windowsill

What matters here

  • Measure the shelf gap first: these small lamps are 19–24 cm tall.
  • Cordless saves running a cable along the sill.
  • Keep it low and warm: this is accent light, not work light.
All table lamps (20)

Best small stone lamp

8. Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp

Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp — Sand Beige

£85 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp

A tilted opal globe on a travertine base, 19 cm tall and 24 cm wide. The globe glows evenly all round, so it lifts a dark corner of a bookcase or a deep sill without glare, and it dims when fitted with a dimmable G9 bulb.

Specifications

Light
G9, bulb not included
Suits
Shelves, sills, narrow bedsides
Dimmable
Yes · Trailing edge (with dimmable bulb)
Size
W 24 cm · H 19 cm
Material
Travertine (natural stone) and acrylic
Finish
Sand beige and white
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Travertine base
  • Even, glare-free glow
  • Dims with the right bulb

Good to know

  • G9 bulb not included

Best with no socket

9. Fungo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp

Fungo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp — Beige

£51 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Fungo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp

A beige mushroom only 13.3 cm across that runs from a built-in battery. Its 80 lumens of warm 2700K light make a soft glow on a windowsill or between books, and with no cable, nothing trails along the shelf.

Specifications

Light
LED built in: 80 lumens, 2700K
Suits
Shelves and sills
Dimmable
No
Size
W 13.3 cm · H 23.5 cm
Fitting
Rechargeable, no wiring

What we like

  • Narrow 13.3 cm base
  • Warm 2700K
  • No cable to hide

Good to know

  • 80 lumens: a glow, not a reading light
06

Where there's no plug nearby

What matters here

  • Go cordless where the light only has to look good.
  • Charging more than twice a week means that spot wanted a plug.
  • Most cordless lamps are IP20, so indoors only.
All cordless lighting (17)

Best cordless with a shade

10. Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp

Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp — Brass, Black Shade

£80 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp

A brass stem and a black shade lined in gold, 41 cm tall with a 20 cm shade, so it looks like a proper lamp rather than a gadget. The closed top sends light down onto the table, and the listing gives up to 8 hours a charge.

Specifications

Light
E14 SES
Suits
Dining and side tables
Size
H 41 cm
Material
Brass, Fabric
Finish
Brass
Fitting
Rechargeable, no wiring

What we like

  • Up to 8 hours a charge
  • E14 LED bulb in the box

Good to know

  • USB plug not in the box

Best set of three

11. Trio Wireless Table Lamp Set

Trio Wireless Table Lamp Set — Black, Charging Station

£110 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Trio Wireless Table Lamp Set

Three slim black lamps, each 32 cm tall, that live on one charging station and come off it for the evening. They dim by touch and the listing gives 200 lumens of warm 2800K light, enough for a real pool on a table or a sideboard.

Specifications

Light
LED built in: 200 lumens, 2800K
Suits
Long tables and sideboards
Dimmable
Yes · Touch dimmer
Size
H 32 cm · D 20 cm
Material
Polycarbonate
Finish
Black
Fitting
Rechargeable, no wiring
IP rating
IP44

What we like

  • Three lamps, one dock
  • Touch dimmer
  • IP44, so splashes are fine

Good to know

  • Run time not stated on the listing

Questions we get asked

What size table lamp do I need for a bedside table?

Pick a shade a little narrower than the table top, so it is not knocked in the dark. Then check the height: sitting up in bed, the bottom of the shade should be 50–65 cm above the mattress.

How tall should a lamp be next to a sofa?

Aim for the bottom of the shade at about shoulder height when you are seated. That puts light on your book or lap and keeps the bulb out of your eyeline.

How many table lamps does a living room need?

Three or four small, warm sources at different heights, with the ceiling light dimmed. Several small lamps make a room glow in a way one bright fitting cannot.

What colour temperature bulb should a table lamp have?

2700K in living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms. For a desk lamp used for close work, 3500–4000K helps you stay alert; keep it to the desk and the rest of the room at 2700K.

How long does a cordless table lamp last on one charge?

It depends on the brightness setting, the battery size and its age. Our Lira is rated at up to 8 hours a charge; where a listing gives no figure, plan on an evening and time it on the first night.

Do I need an electrician to fit a table lamp?

No. Every lamp in this guide plugs into a socket or runs from a rechargeable battery. Wiring is only needed for wall and ceiling lights.

Not sure yet?

Let the light finder narrow it down.

A few questions about your room, then a short list of lights that fit.

Find your lightor email help@ensolighting.com